Drogba joins Montreal Impact

Former Chelsea star, Didier Drogba has signed with Montreal Impact, the MLS side have confirmed.

Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba wears the crown holding a camera as he poses during the presentation of the Premier League trophy after the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in London on May 24, 2015. File Photo

The Impact secured Drogba’s services after completing a trade with Chicago Fire for the right to negotiate a free transfer with the Ivorian star, who has agreed an 18-month contract.

The Canadian side sent Fire allocation funds – consisting both of Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and general allocation money – in order for the club to drop their own claim on the 2012 Champions League winner.

Drogba, 37, has been a target of Major League Soccer for several years, after allegedly  turning down a $7.75 (€7) million-a-year deal to sign with the league back in 2012 before he accepted a lucrative offer to move to China that ultimately collapsed.

Drogba has been a free agent since his contract with the English Premier League champions expired at the end of last season following a second stint at the club.

Drogba, who ended his second spell with Chelsea at the end of the 2014-15 season, follows former Blues team-mate Frank Lampard, ex-Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Italy icon Andrea Pirlo in moving to the US top flight this summer.